Managing and reducing negative impacts to biodiversity

Controlling the economic, social, and environmental impacts of invasive species

The impact of invasive species on native ecosystems, habitats, and species is catastrophic and often irreversible. In Canada, invasive species are frequently and increasingly identified as a top threat to species at risk and economic impacts result in billions of annual losses. In the early 1960s, invasive species cost North America $2 billion per year, which has increased to over $26 billion per year since 2010. Significant impacts to the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and tourism sectors are experienced, with the Canadian agriculture sector alone estimating a $2.2 billion annual economic impact from invasive plants.

Prevent new introductions of invasive species into and across Canada by identifying key pathways for introduction and providing education, resources, training, and support to address key pathways. [ECCC, PS, CFIA, AAFC]

• Develop, implement, and monitor a National Framework for Early Detection and Rapid Response Initiatives to ensure effective and early response to new and emerging invasive species. [CFIA, AAFC, ECCC, DFO, NRCan, HC]
• Enable and support cross-sectoral partnerships, collaboration, and Indigenous leadership and knowledge in planning, control, monitoring, and reporting to restore and improve habitat by controlling invasive species. [ECCC, DFO, AAFC, CFIA, NRCan, PS]
• Ensure access to and encourage strong science, management, and reporting that provides accessible and transparent research and data, and that helps evaluate policies and programs to ensure effectiveness. [ECCC, DFO] See also Accurate data, research, information, and knowledge for improved evidence-based monitoring and decision-making, later in this document.

Advancing a One Health approach

There is increasing recognition that the health of humans, animals (domestic and wild), and ecosystems are interconnected. The Global Biodiversity Framework calls for countries to implement the framework with consideration of the One Health Approach. Compared to livestock and public health sectors, Canada’s current approach to wildlife health is under-resourced and reactive. The Green Budget Coalition recommends that the federal government fund the Pan-Canadian Approach to Wildlife Health, as follows:

Data collection to support regulatory evaluation of pesticides

The PMRA frequently lacks data on environmental concentrations and use patterns (e.g., information on the timing, location, and quantity of pesticide applications) for the pesticides it is responsible for evaluating and regulating. This is an unacceptable gap. In 2021, the government invested $50 million over three years to strengthen pesticide oversight, including a pilot water monitoring program and development of a reporting system to collect data on pesticide use. These programs should be expanded and extended, taking into account lessons learned in the pilot phase. Systematic data collection on localized pesticide use and more comprehensive environmental monitoring data would allow the PMRA to perform trend analysis, validate models used in re-evaluation and special review assessments, identify early warnings, and better plan and target compliance and enforcement activities. However, environmental monitoring will never be comprehensive and should not be used as a pretext for disregarding precautionary modeling of exposure estimates. The collection of these data is also required to measure Canada’s progress towards meeting Target 7 in the Global Biodiversity Framework (reducing pesticide risks by 50% by 2030).

In June 2023, the government announced proposed regulatory changes to strengthen consideration of species at risk in pesticide risk assessments. The Green Budget Coalition recommends that ECCC’s Canadian Wildlife Service be funded to lead this work, and to assess and track overall risks to biodiversity from pesticides.

Halt and reverse bird population declines

Canada’s 451 native bird species help to keep forests and other ecosystems healthy through pest control, pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient cycling. Canada continues to lose significant numbers of birds to human-related causes, despite protections found in Canada’s oldest nature law, the Migratory Bird Convention Act. Focused action and investments are required to restore migratory bird populations and protect their habitats, including wintering habitats for Canada’s migratory birds in Latin America. Wintering habitats are integral to meeting the energy demands of incubation (see also Increasing Canada’s international biodiversity assistance, later in this document). The following investments and actions are recommended to urgently address the five main threats to all birds: habitat loss, pesticides and contaminants, invasive species and cats, collisions, and the climate crisis.